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Whisky Review: Stauning Smoke

We review Stauning Smoke. It's a smoked single malt whisky made in Denmark using only ingredients from within three kilometers of the distillery.

OVERALL RATING

9
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Stauning Smoke (image via Stauning Danish Whisky)

Tasting Notes

About:

94 Proof, 47% ABV, 100% malted barley, Aged in first fill bourbon casks, first fill Madeira casks, first fill Jamaican rum casks and virgin American Oak casks, 750ml, $99.99
Appearance:
Pale straw with a peachy hue, very quick legs
Nose:
Hay and woody smoke mingle throughout, ending with a touch of bright lemon.
Palate:
Light and thin in texture, a sharp note of wood smoke with a leathery quality hits right off. The smoke mellows but the leather keeps with the sip, and has a hint of cocoa on the back palate. Subsequent sips really bring out a softness like sweetened white bread.
Finish:
Comments:
Okay, I get it now. This is an exceptional peated whisky, for either an introduction to peat or the well-seasoned peat lover. The semblance to Islay whiskies is there, but in a much softer and mellower sense. It’s becoming less and less possible to dismiss the idea of terroir in whisky, but I feel like even the staunchest of deniers would have to acknowledge it with this whisky. In addition to stylistic similarities, the elegance of the craft comes out with this expression, and suggests a distillery with a much older pedigree.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Talia Gragg

Talia is part of the Portland service industry community, and an alumna of the Multnomah Whiskey Library. She’s an avid spirit and cocktail enthusiast, and likes to experience them both academically and recreationally. When not sipping whiskey she’s a ceramic artist and lover of travel.

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